Elite Traveler July-August 2017

elite traveler JULY/AUG 2017 123

WHERE TO STAY

IMPERIAL SUITE The K Club

SIGNATURE SUITE Dylan

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE Brooks Hotel

THE SCHWARTZ SUITE The Marker Hotel

The K Club is set amongst 550 acres of pristine parkland on a private stretch of the River Liffey, and the original house was modeled on a French château. Retaining many of the original architectural features, the elegantly restored 19th century Georgian estate is home to two championship golf courses: The Palmer Ryder Cup Course and The Palmer Smurfit Course. If golf’s not your thing, the 20,000 sq ft spa is considered the best in Ireland. The regal feel is extended to all of the rooms, and the two-bedroom Imperial Suite’s divine furnishings and spacious rooms will make you feel right at home. From $7,500 per night, contact sales@kclub.ie, +35 316 017 200, kclub.ie

Redolent of a literary boudoir of yore, the blood-red carpets, ambient lighting and colossal beds make Dylan as far from the well-worn Irish heritage cliché as it’s possible to get. The baroque vibe of the hotel continues in the Signature Suite, uniquely designed and with a bespoke, hand-crafted Italian king bed. All of the rooms feature luxurious Mark Buxton toiletries, hospitality trays groaning with delicious local sweet and savory snacks and the serene location, by a small green 20 minutes’ walk from the city center makes for a soothing retreat after the bustle of the city. From$560 per night, contact Barry Francis, general manager, barryfrancis@ dylan.ie, +35 316 603 000, dylan.ie

Brooks offers discretion in the heart of the new Creative Quarter around Drury Street, with the Presidential Suite eschewing the usual VIP clichés. Far from offering bling bombast, this is a space of refined quietude, with American walnut furnishings handcrafted in Galway, muted tones, a walk-in wardrobe and—a rarity in Dublin hotels — a private balcony, this one being a particularly handsome timber-decked space with seating. There’s little car or foot traffic on the street outside, meaning that this is one of the most restful sleeps you can have in the center of this famously lively city. From$706 per night, contact Anne

Down in the resurgent docklands, the Schwartz Suite at The Marker hotel has some sweeping views out over Grand Canal Square and a raft of individual touches that pleasingly fuse quirky with quality. You’d expect to find quality Malin + Goetz toiletries, of course. But the Andreu white glass pedestal table is ideal for a private dining experience in the suite itself, and the teardrop wall-mounted bar, alongside throws and blankets from Danish and Irish designers combines, to create an entirely contemporary but engagingly warm feel. From $1,300 per night, contact Charlie

Kinsella, front officemanager, reservations@brookshotel.ie, +35 316 704 000, brookshotel.ie

Sheil, general manager, info@ themarker.ie, +35 316 875 100, themarkerhoteldublin.com

TOP RESTAURANTS Set in a converted barn with cavernous ceilings and a giant cubist-style mural of sheep on the walls,

Clockwise from top: The K Club from above; L’Ecrivain’sWicklow sika deer, chicory, beetroot and fermented berries with a licorice jus; bar at the Dylan; River Liffey by night

beetroot and fermented berries with a licorice jus. Inside the legendarily louche Shelbourne hotel lies The Saddle Room , (shelbournedining.ie), a paean to the Mad Men era of dark, discreet dining. The bronze and gold walls, booth seating and oyster bar set the tone for an evening most atavistic, with the menu brimming with classic dishes given subtle modern makeovers, such as roast venison loin with eggplant, caviar and crushed cauliflower. Housed in a hugely atmospheric vaulted cellar dating back to the early 19th century, the Ely Bar & Brasserie (elywinebar.ie) claims to be Ireland’s oldest wine bar. Alongside a gargantuan list of old and new world varietals is an inviting menu of high-end comfort food such as foie gras and chicken liver parfait and chargrilled Irish pork tenderloin with pickled mustard seeds, turnips and jus.

you’d be hard pushed to find a friendlier Michelin- starred restaurant than L’Ecrivain . (lecrivain.com) The ‘kitchen dinner menu’ dazzles and pops with local flavor — don’t miss the Wicklow sika deer, chicory,

Photos Getty Images 2005, Pawel Nowak, Ashley Morrison, David McAuley